Friction-clutch.



No. 764,146. PATENTED JULY 5, 1904. E. F. MGMAHON.

FRICTION CLUTCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 31, 1899.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented July 5, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

FRICTION-CLUTCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 764,146, dated July 5, 1904.

Application filed May 31,1899. Serial No. 718,820. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD F. MoMAHoN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of \Vorcester, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Friction-Clutches, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of friction-clutches known as split ring, in which the severed ends of a yielding contractible ring are brought into continuous frictional contact with the hub of a power-pulley.

The object of my invention is to provide a clutch cheap in construction, but of great gripping power, and to so-arrange the operating parts that the severed ends of the ring are drawn together by a rolling motion. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the following drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side View of the clutch, showing driving-pulley, shaft, and sliding cone. Fig. 2 is an end view of clutch, partly in sec. tion, to show fulcrum-pin I. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing collar F. Fig. 4 is a view showing lever fulcrum-pin and eyebolt.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The driven shaft A carries the clutch, sliding cone C, and loose driving-pulley B. The split ring D is provided with two lips D and D projected radially from the points of severance of the ring. Lip D is longer than D and is bored, as shown, for the reception of the ring contracting device. The split ring is provided with a bifurcated projection E, which is integral with the ring and preferably is diametrically opposite D and D The hub of the loose pulley B fits within D in such manner as to revolve freely whenthe split ring is in its open or relaxed condition.

A collar F, fast to the shaft by means of a set-screw, is provided with a segmental bear-- ing-plate F integral therewith and axially extended from F to substantially cover the face of split ring D and to hear at one end against top of lip D when the parts are as sembled.

It will be noted that F incloses but a small portion of the periphery of the ring. A standard F rises, perpendicularly from F and is bored to receive the fulcrum-pin of the operating-lever. also projected axially from D. Lug F is embraced by the bifurcation E, and in this simple manner the split ring is attached to collar F, the lug F and the bifurcation E forming an anchorage. The cone-operated lever Gr passes up over collar F to standard F where it is bifurcated to embrace said standard. The fulcrum-pin I extends through the standard F and the bifurcated ends G and G of the lever.

As shown on the drawings, I is provided with a head I, which is countersunk in G Cast with F is a lug F G is extended beyond the standard to provide a bearing for spring H, the other end of which spring fits into a recess upon F. The function of H is to return the operatinglever to its initial or inoperative position after cone G has been removed.

A stud G cast upon G receives the screwthreaded eyebolt J, which passes through D and is adjusted as to length by nuts K K. The eye or head of the bolt is so opposed to the head of the pin that it covers a portion of I, thereby preventing the pin I from working out.

Since the shoulder of head I bears against the face of F and since J abuts against I,

pin I is retained securely in place Without the aid of nuts or cotter-pins.

The above construction provides a clutch which is not only cheap in construction and effective in operation, but also one in which the frictionally -contacting parts are not jammed or wedged together, thereby causing a jar to the mechanism and an excessive wear uponthe split ring. In this clutch when cone C raises the lever G a rolling motion is transmitted to all the parts. G rotates upon its fulcrum-pin, stud G rises in a curved path to its final position. The effect of this movement upon the split ring is first to pull lip D into forcible contact with edge of segment F.

The continued rise of G through its connect-v ing eyebolt J, acting upon lip D in a direction tangential to the split ring and perpendicular to the axis of the shaft, winds or rolls the contacting periphery of the split ring about the hub of the driving-pulley. This peculiar movement permits the rotating pulley to accommodate itself to the inertia of the driven parts, with the result that all jar is eliminated and the inner surface of the split ring is rolled so evenly about the hub of the driving-pulley that the wear upon these contacting parts is greatly lessened.

It will be seen that parts of split ring lettered D, D, D, and E are all cast in one piece,

parts of collar lettered F, F, F and F form a single casting, and in like manner the bifurcated operating lever with its stud G make one casting. After these parts are cast they are bored to receive the pin and bolt and beyond finishing the friction-surface of the split ring the parts are ready to be assembled for duty without further filing or fitting.

There is but one adjustment in the whole clutchnamely, taking up or letting down on the nuts K K.

What I claim as my invention is 1. A clutch comprising a. split ring provided with a projecting lip, a collar fast upon the shaft and provided with a segmental part abutting against the lip of the split ring, a pin supported in the collar, a bifurcated operatinglever pivoted upon the pin, and a stud rigid upon one of the bifurcations of the lever in combination with an eyebolt connecting the stud to the end of the split ring opposite to the lip bearing against the segmental part, and adapted when operated to contract the split ring.

2. In a clutch, a split ring provided with a radially-projecting lip, and with a bifurcated projection, a collar provided with a segmental part, a lug integral with the collar and adapted to be in continued engagement with the bi furcated projection for the purpose of securing the split ring to the collar, an operatinglever provided with a stud, and a bolt connecting the stud to the end of the split ring opposite the projecting lip and serving to contract the'split ring.

3. Afriction-clutch comprising a collar fast upon the shaft, a segmental plate and a lug projecting radially from said collar, a split ring, a bifurcated projection integral with the split ring and adapted to receive said lug in continued engagement for the purpose of se curing the collar to the ring, a lip cast upon the split ring adapted to bear against said segmental plate, an operating-lever fulcrumed upon the collar, and means for connecting the lever with the end of the split ring opposite,

to the lip bearing against the plate to contract the split ring.

4:. A friction-clutch comprising a collar fast upon the driven shaft, a segmental bearingplate integral with the collar, a standard integral with the bearing-plate, a pin held in the standard, an operating-lever pivoted upon the pin, a stud integral with said lever and independent of the pin, a split ring in operative engagement with the collar, and connecting means consisting of a bolt for connecting the lever to the end of the split ring opposite to that in engagement with the collar, whereby the operation of the lever contracts the split ring.

5. A friction-clutch comprising a collar fast upon the driven shaft, a split ring having one end in operative engagement with the collar, a lever fulcrumed upon the collar, a stud on said lever eccentric with relation to the fulcrum, and a bolt connecting the lever with the end of the split ring opposite to that in engagement with the collar, whereby the operation of the lever contracts the split ring.

6. In a clutch, the combination of a collar, a split ring having one end in operative engagement with the collar, a standard carried by the collar, an operating-lever, a fulcrumpin supporting the lever upon the standard, means for holding said fulcrum-pinagainst movement in one direction, and an eyebolt secured to the lever and having its head opposed to said pin, whereby the lateral movement of the pin is prevented, and said bolt being connected with the end of the split ring opposite to that in operative engagement with the collar.

7 In a clutch, the combination of a collar, a split ring having one end in operative engagement with the collar, a standard, a fulcrum-pin passing through the standard and provided with a head abutting against one face of the standard, a lever fulcrumed upon the pin, and a bolt attached to the lever and opposed to the head of the pin, whereby the lateral movement of the pin in either direction is prevented, said bolt being connected with the end of the split ring opposite to that in operative engagement with the collar.

8. In a clutch, a collar fast upon the shaft, extensions F and F integral with said collar, an operating-lever pivotally supported upon the extension F, a stud projecting from the lever and positioned at a distance from the axis of the lever, a split ring having one end in operative engagement with the collar, and means connecting the stud and the end of the split ring opposite to that in operative engagement with the collar to actuate the split ring.

9. In a clutch, the combination of a driven member, a shaft to be driven, a collar fast In testimony whereof I have signed my name I 0 to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 15th day of May,

EDWARD F. MOMAHON.

Witnesses:

. MARTIN C. LYDEN, JOSEPH H. LYDEN. 

